On the Sensitivity of Passive Multistatic Radar Amplitude and Doppler Measurements to Significant Wave Height

This work presents data from a recent field campaign in which an S-band passive radar using noncooperative satellite-based illumination was used to measure bistatic radar scattering from the sea surface. Significant wave height (SWH) information from a nearby Waverider buoy was reported concurrent with passive radar measurements. These simultaneous data collections fostered a study of the sensitivity of passive radar amplitude and Doppler measurements to SWH. This work demonstrates that Doppler and amplitude measurements with passive radar using satellite-based illumination can provide a promising approach to coastal remote sensing of SWH and mean wave direction, particularly when the scene is illuminated by multiple transmitters with a large physical separation between them.